Mild shampoo compositions

ABSTRACT

Mild shampoo compositions comprise specific ethoxylated anionic surfactants, specific zwitterionic surfactants, and polyethoxylated nonionic surfactants.

United States Patent [191 Bolich, Jr. et a1.

[ MILD SHAMPOO COMPOSITIONS [75] Inventors: Raymond Edward Bolich, Jr.,

1 Montgomery; Robert Benson Aylor,

' Blue Ash, both of Ohio The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed: Dec. 11, 1972 Appl. No; 313,908

[73] Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1957 Mannheimer 260/401 Dec. 23, 1975 Goff 252/DIG. 13 Masci et a]. 252/545 Libby 252/DIG. l3 Pader et a1... 252/D1G. 13 Gorayan et al.. 252/545 Cahn ct a1. 252/526 Kalopissis et al. 252/545 Hewitt 252/545 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS United Kingdom 252/546 Primary Examiner-Richard Dv Lovering Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert B. Aylor; Ronald L.

Hemingway; George W. Allen ABSTRACT Mild shampoo compositions comprise specific ethoxylated anionic surfactants, specific zwitterionic surfactants, and polyethoxylated nonionic surfactants.

16 Claims, No Drawings MILD sHAMPoocoMPosmoNs BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to shampoo compositions, particularly those which are very mild and have a minimal tendency to sting the eyes. I

2. Prior Art Compositions containing the reaction products of ethoxylated anionic surfactants and certain specific amphoteric surfactants and polyethoxylated nonionic surfactants have been disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,999,069 and 3,055,836, Masci and Poirier. Similar disclosures are contained in the corresponding foreign patent applications such as British Pat. Nos. 850,514, 850,515, and 921,122; and Canadian Pat. No. 595,532. In each of these patents, the disclosure is ofa reaction product formed between the anionic surfactant and the amphoteric surfactant which contains ternary nitrogen groups.

The compositions of this invention are all extremely mild and have minimum or no eye sting. This is a very desirable combination of characteristics. For example, children cannot keep shampoo out of their eyes and the resulting pain can be extremely damaging to good relations between the parent and child. Yet, one would not want to have a shampoo which didnt sting, but which caused serious damage, since then one needs the pain to encourage a thorough rinsing of the eye. Thus, the combination of mildness and lack of eye sting is extremely desirable.

The prior art compositions discussed hereinbefore do sting the eyes, but less than conventional shampoos. The compositions of this invention are as mild and in many instances milder than the prior art compositions and in many instances sting the eyes less. It is surprising that zwitterionic compounds, of the type disclosed herein, are as mild or milder than the reaction prod uct compositions of the prior art, when used in combination with the anionic and nonionic surfactants of this invention. Although, betaines and sultaines are well known in the art, the ability of applicants three-component compositions to be used as shampoos without stinging eyes was unknown.

THE INVENTION This invention relates to the discovery of a mild shampoo composition comprising:

A. a polyethoxylated anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of l a surfactant having the formula R(OC. ,H ),,OSO;,M, wherein R is a hydrophobic group selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups containing from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, alkylphenyl groups wherein the alkyl group contains from about 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, and fatty acid amido groups wherein the fatty acid contains from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, wherein n is a number from about 1 to about 10 (preferably 1 to and M is a non-toxic cation which makes the surfactant water-soluble, preferably a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium and triethanolammonium cations, and (2) a water-soluble (e.g.. sodium, potassium, ammonium or'triethanolam monium) polyethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfosuccinate monoester wherein said fatty alcohol contains from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, preferably from about to about 14 carbon atoms, and said polye-' 2 thoxylated fatty alcohol contains from about 1 to about 10 ethoxy moieties per molecule, preferably from about I to 5;

B. a zwitterionic surfactant having the formula l M K ):\-A 2-n(R )n( wherein A, B, and C are each selected from the group consisting of 0 and 1, wherein A is 0 when B is l and A is 1 when B is 0, wherein C can only be I when Y is a sulfonate group, wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups containing from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms and a moiety having the formula R C(O)NH R"' wherein R is an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms and R is an alkylene group containing from I to about 5 carbon atoms (preferably 2-4 carbon atoms and most preferably 3 carbon atoms), wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and alkoxyalkyl groups which can be connected to form a ring and each of which contains from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of sulfonate and carboxylate groups, and wherein R is an alkylene group containing from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms when Y is a carboxylate group and is selected from the group consisting of alkylene and hydroxyalkylene groups containing from about 2 to about 5 carbon atoms when Y is a sulfonate group and wherein the hydroxy group is on a secondary carbon atom;

C. a polyethoxylated nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of: l) polyethoxylated alcohols, said alcohols containing an alkyl group, either primary or secondary, and either straight or branched chain, containing from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated alcohols containing from about 10 to about 45 ethoxy moieties per molecule, (2) polyethoxylated alkylphenols wherein the alkyl group contains from about 6 to about 15 carbon atoms and wherein the polyethoxylated alkylphenol contains from about 10 to about 45 ethoxy moieties per molecule, (3) polyethoxylated mono fatty acid esters of sorbitol wherein said fatty acids contain from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated mono fatty acid ester of sorbitol contains from about 10 to about 45 ethoxy moieties per molecule, (4) polyethoxylated polypropylene glycol, said polypropylene glycol'having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 15,000 and said polyethoxylated polypropylene glycol containing from about 15 to about 300 ethoxy moieties per molecule, and (5) polyethoxylated fatty acids wherein said fatty acid contains from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated fatty acid contains from about .10 to about 45 ethoxy moieties per molecule; and

D. water, the molecular ratio of (A) to (B) beingfrom about 1:1 to about 4:1; the weight ratio of(A) (B) to (C) being from about 2:1 to about 1:2; and the pH of the composition being from about 6.0 to about 8.0.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION properties. Typically the composition will contain from.

about 2 to about 15% of the anionic surfactant, preferably from about 4 to about 8 7c for a liquid shampoo, and from about 3 to about for a paste shampoo. The sodium salts of the polyethoxylated anionic surfactants are preferred, but any non-toxic, water-soluble salt can be used, including potassium, triethanolammonium. and ammonium salts.

The preferred polyethoxylated anionic surfactants are the sodium salt of C -C fatty alcohol polyethoxy(3) ether sulfate, the sodium salt of polyethoxylated(3) C -C mono fatty alcohol sulfosuccinate, and the sodium salt of C -C fatty acyl amido polyethoxy(4) ether sulfate. Other suitable polyethoxylated anionic surfactants are disclosed hereinafter in the examples.

2. The zwitterionic surfactants The zwitterionic surfactant provides major lather benefits while modifying the nature of the composition so that it is less strongly anionic. The molecular ratio of the anionic to zwitterionic surfactant is from about 1:1 to about 4:1, preferably from about 1:1 to about 3:1, most preferably from about 1:1 to about 2:1.

Preferred zwitterionic surfactants are propylamido betaines derived from C -C fatty acids, and the corresponding propylamido sultaines, and C -C alkyl sultaines wherein the cationic and sulfonate anionic groups are separated by a propylene group and the remaining groups are methyl groups. Specifically, preferred zwitterionic surfactants are (a) those having the formula R7CONH- C H NH (RR)? R Y wherein R is an alkyl group containing from about 9 to about carbon atoms, wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, and 2- hydroxyethyl groups, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of sulfonate and carboxylate groups, and wherein R is a methylene group when Y is a carboxylate group and is selected from the group consisting of propylene and 2-hydroxypropylene groups when Y is a sulfonate group; and (b) those having the formula R'ONH 1R")! CH- CHXCH SOf wherein R contains from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl groups, and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxyl groups. Examples of other zwitterionic surfactants are given in the examples hereinafter.

3. The polyethoxylated nonionic surfactant The polyethoxylated nonionic surfactant provides a mildness benefit. It also contributes to the character of the lather, although in general, the nonionic surfactant tends to control and diminish the amount of the lather. The ratio of the polyethoxylated anionic surfactant and zwitterionic surfactant to the polyethoxylated nonionic surfactant is from about 2:1 to about 1:2, preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:2, and most preferably from about 1:1 to about 121.2.

Preferred nonionic surfactants include polyethoxylated (15-40) sorbitan monoacylate (C -C preferably monolaurate), polyethoxylated (20-100) polypropylene glycol (M.W. 8,000l2,000), and polyethoxylated (15-40) fatty alcohols (C -C Other examples of nonionic surfactants are disclosed hereinafter in the examples.

4. Water Water is used to make up the shampoo compositions to the desired physical form. For liquid shampoos, there will normallybe from about 50 to about 85% of water present, preferably from about 65 to about For a paste shampoo, there will normally be from about 30 to about 60% water present, preferably from about 35 to about 55% 5. Other ingredients In addition to the ingredients described hereinbefore, the shampoo compositions of this invention can also contain other conventional shampoo components, including dyes, preservatives such as ethanol, perfumes, thickeners, opacifiers, antibacterial agents, antidandruff agents, buffering agents, conditioning agents, etc. Desirably, only ingredients which are not irritating to the eye are added.

It is especially desirable and preferred to have buffering agents present to maintain the pH of the composition within the range from about 6.0 to about 8.0, preferably from about 6.5 to about 7.5, and most preferably, about 7. Such buffering agents include NaOH, NCl, NaHPO,,, boric acid, etc. It is also very desirable to include antidandruff agents such as zinc pyridinethiol N-oxide.

The choice of a proper thickener is complicated by the fact that the ingredients react with many anionic thickeners and many nonionic thickeners fail to thicken the compositions. Suitable thickening agents include carragenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose (e.g., one with a D3. of about 2,5 whose 1% solution has a viscosity of 3-4,000 centipoises at 25C.), and the compounds disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,472,840, F. W. Stone and J. M. Rutherford, Jr., as set forth in the application of Roger Clarence Birkofer, Ser. No. 313,907, entitled MILD THICKENED SHAMPOO COMPOSITIONS WITH CONDITIONING PROPER- TIES," filed concurrently herewith, and now abondoned. These thickeners are desirable in that they tend to provide clear, single-phase compositions. All patents and applications referred to herein are specifically incorporated herein by reference. All percentages, ratios, and parts herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.

Polyethoxylated (206 moles) polypropylene glycol, molecular weight 10,800. (PPG) -continued Ingredient Water Adjusted to pH of 7.0 with HCI.

"/1 by Weight balance Ingredient 7: by Weight Amido Betaine 4.0

Sodium po|yethoxylated( 3 )lauryl sulfosucei- 8.2 nate monoester (Ethoxylated sulfosuccinate) PPG 14.0

Ethanol 7.0

NaH. ,PO ,.H. .O 1.0

Water balance pH adjusted to 7.0 with NaOH.

EXAMPLE IV Ingredient "/1 by Weight Sultaine 4 5 AE S 7.0

Polyethoxylated( )trideeyl alcohol (3- l4.() methyl dodeeanol) (PTA) Ethanol 7.0

Cationic thickener 2 [cationic cellulose L ether of Claim 7 of US. Pat. No. 3.472.840, wherein a is 2, h is 2. q is 0 m p is about l.5. the degree of substitution of the cationic group (and m) are about 0.2. and the viscosity of a Wr aqueous solution is I25-I500 eentipoises at 25C.]

Water balance pH adjusted to 7.0 with HCI.

EXAMPLE V Water pH adjusted to 7.0 with NaOH.

EXAMPLE VI Ingredient N-( .I-eoconutaeylamidopropyl )-N .N di( Z-hydroxyethyl l-3aminopropanesull'onate Sodium salt of sulfated pol \'ethoxylatedt4) lauro \lamide (ethoxylated amido sulfate) Tween 2U Natrosol 250 HH IA hydroxyelhyl cellulose /zby Weight 71 by Weight (D.P. 2.5) having a viscosity at IV: in water at 25)C. of 3-4.000 centipoisesl "/1 by Weight Ethanol 7.0

Water balance Adjusted to pH of 7.0 with NaH. -I30:,.

EXAMPLE VII Ingredient "/1 by Weight 3-(N-laurylmorpholino)2 hydroxypropane 4.0 sulfonate Sodium nonylphenol polyethox v(6) 7.0 ether sulfate Polyethoxylated(25) undecylphenol [6.0

Natrosol 250 HH L8 Ethanol 6.0

Water balance Adjusted to pH 7.0 with NaOH.

EXAMPLE VIII Ingredient '/t by Weight 3-( N,N-dimethyl-N-eoeonutalkylammonio Z-hydroxypropane sull'onat'e- Ethoxylated amidosull'ate Tween 20 Natrosol 250 HH Ethanol Water pH adjusted to 7.0 with NaOH.

EXAMPLE X Ingredient balance 7: h Weight Amido hetaine Ethoxylated sull'osuccinate -continued Ingredient /t by Weight PTA 12.00

Na carrageenan 1.00

Z-bromo-Z-nitrol .B-propanediol .02 (a hactericide) Distilled water balance Adjusted pH to 7.0 with NaOH.

' EXAMPLE XI Ingredient 71 by Weight 7 C-cctyl betaine 5.00

AF.;.S 8.00

Polyethyleneglycol( )monolaurate l4.00

Distilled water balance Adjusted pH to 7.0 with HCl.

EXAMPLE Xll Ingredient by Weight Sultainc 4.00

AE;.S 5.50

PPG (molecular weight 3.000) l4.00

Cationic thickener .60

Ethanol 7.00

Perfume 0.25

Distilled water balance Adjusted pH to 7.0 with HCI.

EXAMPLE XIll Ingredient "/1 by Weight Amido bctainc 3.00

Ethoxylated sultbsuccinate 7.00

'l'ween 20 l4.0(l

Cationic thickener. 2 0.50 I

Ethanol 7.00

Distilled water balance Adjusted pH to 7.0 with NaOH.

When in the above Examples IXIIl the following Zwitterionic surfactants. either totally or in part (e.g., a 1:1 ratio). substantially equivalent results are obtained in that the shampoos are exceptionally mild to the eyes.

l.4-[ N-coconutacylamidopropylene-N.N-di( 2- hydroxypropyl )-ammonio lbutanel -sulfonate;

2. Bl N-pentadecylamidopropylene-N-( 3-hydroxypropyl )-N-propylammonio lethanel -sulfonate;

3. 4( N-laurylmorpholino )Z-hydroxybutanoate;

4. 3-( N-laurylmorpholino )propanel -sulfonate;

5. 3( N-tridecyl-N-methyl-N-propyl )-aminopropanoate;

6. 4-( N,N,N-trimethylammonio )stearate;

7. 3-[N-Methyl-N-(Z-hydroxyethyl)-N-propylamv monioleicosane-l-sulfonate;

8. 5-[N,N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-N-methylammonio]3- I hydroxydocosanel -carb0xylate;

9. N-coconutalkyl betain'e;'

10'. C-ce tyl betaine;

l l. C-hexadecyl betaine;

l2. 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-co con utalkylammoni0)-2- hydroxypropanel sulfonate;

l3. 6-coconutacylamido-3-trimethylammoniohexanoate;

l4. 7-coconutacylamido-4-tri(Z-hydroxyethybheptanel-sulfonate;

thylammonio]-propane-l-sulfonate; v

l6. 3-[N-( 3-coconutacylamidopropyl )N,N-di( 2- hydroxyethyl)ammonio]-2-hydroxypropanel-sul- 4. polyethoxylated( 6 )pentadecylphenol 6. Monoethanolammonium polyethoxylated(5 )tetra-' propylene phenol ether sulfate; 7. Sodium polyethoxylatedt8)3-nonylphenol ether sulfate; 8. Potassium po1yethoxylated(4)octoylamide ether sulfate; J I 9. Triethanolammo ium polyethoxylated(5)hexadecoylamide ether sulfate; 10. Potassium polyethoxylated(2)octanol sulfosuccinate monoester; ll. Triethanolammonium polyethoxylated(l0)hexadecanol sulfosuccinate monoester. i When in the above Examples l-Xlll, the following ethoxylated nonionic surfactants are substituted for the specifically named ethoxylated nonionic surfactants, either totally, or in part (e.g., a 1:1 ratio), substantially equivalent results are obtained in that the shampoos are exceptionally mild to the eyes:

Polyethoxylated(40)octanol; Polyethoxylated( l0 )hexadecanol; Polyethoxylated( 25 )2-ethylnonanol; Polyethoxylated( 1 8 )dodecane-2-ol; Polyethoxylated( 35 )hexylphenol; Polyethoxylated(30)pentadecylphenol; Polyethoxylated(40)tetrapropylenephenol; P0lyethoxylated(25 )3-nonylphenol; Polyethoxylated(35 )sorbitan monostearate; l0. Polyethoxylated( 25 )sorbitan monooctanoate; l l. Polyethoxylated(25 )polypropylene glycol (M.W.

3-[N-(3-coconutacylamidopropyl)-N,l l-dime- 12. Polyethoxylated(25)octanoatej l3. Polyethoxylated(30)hexadcanoate;

l4. Polyethoxylated(300)polypropy1ene (M.W. 15,000). I

What is claimed is: a it a 1. A mild shampoo composition comprising surfactants and water, said surfactants consisting of a mixture of:

A. a polyethoxylated anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of (l) a surfactant having the formula R(OC H ),,OSO M, wherein R is a hydrophobic group selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups containing from about 8 to about 16 carbon aroms, alkylphenyl groups wherein the alkyl group contains from about 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, and fatty acid amido groups wherein the fatty acid contains from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, wherein n is a number from about 1 to about 10 and M is a non-toxic cation which makes the surfactant water-soluble, and (2) a water-soluble polyethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfosuccinate monoester wherein said fatty alcohhol contains from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated fatty alcohol contains from about 1 to about 10 ethoxy moieties per molecule; (B) a zwitterionic surfactant having the formula )3-A 2-B( )B( )C v wherein A, B, and C are each selected from the group consisting of and 1, wherein A is 0 when B is l and A is 1 when B is 0, wherein C can only be 1 when Y is a sulfonate group, wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups containing from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, and a moiety having the formula R -C(O)NH R wherein R is an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms and R is an alkylene group containing from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and alkoxyalkyl groups which can be connected to form a ring and each of which contains from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of sulfonate and carboxylate groups, and wherein R is an alkylene group containing from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms when Y is a carboxylate group and R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene and hydroxyalkylene groups containing from 2 to about 5 carbon atoms when Y is a sulfo nate group, and wherein the hydroxy group in said hydroxyalkylene groups is on a secondary carbon atom;

C. a polyethoxylated nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of: (l) polyethoxylated alkyl alcohols, said alkyl alcohols containing an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated alkyl alcohols containing from about 10 to about 45 ethoxy moieties per molecule, (2) polyethoxylated alkylphenols wherein the alkyl group contains from about 6 to about carbon atoms and wherein the polyethoxylated alkylphenol contains from about 10 to about 45 ethoxy moieties per molecule, (3) polyethoxylated mono fatty acid esters of sorbitol wherein said fatty acids contain from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated mono fatty acid ester of sorbitol contains from about 10 to about 45 ethoxy moieties per molecule, (4) polyethoxylated polypropylene glycol, said glycol polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 1000 to about 15,000 and said polyethoxylated polypropylene glycol containing from about 15 to about 300 ethoxy moieties per molecule, and (5) polyethoxylated fatty acids wherein said fatty acid contains from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated fatty acid contains from about 10 to about 45 ethoxy moieties per molecule, the molecular ratio of (A) to (B) being from about 1:1 to about 4:1; the weight ratio of (A) (B) to (C) being from about 2:1 to about 1:2; and the pH of the composition being from about 6.0 to about 8.0.

2. The composition of claim I wherein the anionic 5 surfactant is present in an amount of from about 2% to about 15% by weight of the composition.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the molecular ratio of the anionic surfactant to the zwitterionic surfactant is from about 1:1 to about 3:1.

4. The composition of claim 2 wherein the molecular ratio of the anionic surfactant to the zwitterionic surfactant is from about 1:1 to about 2:1.

5. The composition of claim 1 having a pH of about 7.0.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic surfactant has the formula wherein R is an alkyl group containing from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, and 2- hydroxyethyl groups, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of sulfonate and carboxylate groups, and wherein R is a methylene group when Y is a carboxylate group and is selected from the group consisting of propylene and 2-hydroxypropylene groups when Y is a sulfonate group.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein Y is a carboxylate group.

8. The composition of claim 6 wherein Y is a sulfonate group.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic surfactant has the formula R'N"" (R )g CH CHX CH-ZSOKH wherein R contains from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl groups, and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxyl groups. 1

10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is a sodium salt of a fatty alcohol polyethoxy ether sulfate containing a fatty alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and about 3 ethoxy moieties per molecule.

11. The composition of claim 1 wherein R is a fatty acid amido group containing from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and n is about 3.

12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant is a polyethoxylataed mono fatty acid ester of sorbitol wherein the fatty acid contains from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms and wherein there are from about 15 to about 40 ethoxy moieties per molecule.

13. The composition of claim 12 wherein the fatty acid is lauric acid.

14. The composition of claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant is a polyethoxylated alkyl alcohol wherein said alkyl alcohol contains from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and wherein there are from l2 16. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is a sodium salt of a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfosuccinate monoestcr. wherein said fatty alcohol contains from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated fatty alcohol contains about 3 ethoxy moieties per molecule.

l l I =l 

1. A MILD SHAMPOO COMPOSITION COMPRISING SURFACTANTS AND WATER, SAID SURFACTANTS CONSISTING OF A MIXTURE OF: A. A POLYETHOXYLATED ANIONIC SURFACTANT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF (1) A FURFACTANT HAVING THE FORMULA R(OC2H4)NOSO3M, WHEREIN R IS A HYDROPHOBIC GROUP SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYL GROUPS CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 16 CARBON ATOMS, ALKYLPHENYL GROUPS WHEREIN THE ALKYL GROUP CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 6 TO ABOUT 15 CARBON ATOMS, AND FATTY ACID AMIDO GROUPS WHEREIN THE FATTY ACID CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 16 CARBON ATOMS, WHEREIN N IS A NUMBER FROM ABOUT 1 TO ABOUT 10 AND M IS A NON-TOXIC CATION WHICH MAKES THE SURFACTANT WATER-SOLUBLE, AND (2) A WATER-SOLUBLE POLYETHOXYLATED FATTY ALCOHOL SULFOSUCCINATE MONOESTER WHEREIN SAID FATTY ALCOHHOL CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 16 CARBON ATOMS AND SAID POLYETHOXYLATED FATTY ALCOHOL CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 1 TO ABOUT 10 ETHOXY MOIETIES PER MOLECULE, (B) A ZWITTERIONIC SURFACTANT HAVING THE FORMULA (R2)AN(+) (R3)3-ACH2-B(R2)B(R40CYC(-), WHEREIN A, B, AND C ARE EACH SELECTED FROM THE CONSISTING OF 0 AND 1, WHEREIN A IS 0 WNEN B IS 1 AND A IS 1 WHEN B IS 0, HEREIN C CAN ONLY BE 1 WHEN Y IS A SULFONATE GROUP, WHEREIN EACH R2 IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYL GROUPS CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 16 CARBON ATOMS, AND A MOIETY HAVING THE FORMULA R5 -C(O)NH-R6 -WHEREIN R5 IS AN ALKYL GROUP CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 16 CARBON TOMS AND R6 IS AN ALKYLENE GROUP CONTAINING FROM 1 TO ABOUT 5 CARBON ATOM, WHEREIN EACH R3 IS SELCTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYL, HYDROXYALKYL AND ALKOXYALKYL GROUPS WHICH CAN BE CONNECTED TO CORM A RING AND EACH OF WHICH CONTAINS FROM 1 TO ABOUT 3 CARBON ATOMS, WHEREIN Y IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SULFONATE AND CARBOXYLATE GROUPS, AND WHEREIN R4 IS AN ALKYLENE GROUP CONTAINING FROM 1 TO ABOUT 5 CARBON ATOMS WHEN Y IS A CARBOXYLATE GROUP AND R4 IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYLENE AND HYDROXYALKYLENE GROUPS CINTAINING FROM 2 TO ABOUT 5 CARBON ATOMS WHEN Y IS A SULFONATE GROUP, AND WHEREIN THE HYDROXY GROUP IN SAID HYDROXYALKYLENE GROUPS IS ON A SECONDARY CARBON ATOM, C. A POLYETHOXYLATED NONIONIC SURFACTANT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF: (1) POLYETHOXYLATED ALKYL ALCOHOLS, SAID ALKYL ALCOHOLS CONTAINING AN ALKYL ALCOTAINING FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 16 CARBON ATOMS AND SAID POLYETHOXYLATED ALKYL ALCOHOLS CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 45 ETHOXY MOIESTIES PER MOLECULE, (2) POLYETHOXYLATED ALKYLPHENOLS WHEREIN THE ALKYL GROUP CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 6 TO ABOUT 15 CARBON ATOMS AND WHEREIN THE POLYETHOXYLATED ALKYLPHENOL CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 45 ETHOXY MOIETIES PER MOLECULE, (3) POLYETHOX YLATED MONO FATTY ACID ESTERS OF SORBITOL WHEREIN SAID FATTY ACIDS CONTAIN FROM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 18 CARBON ATOMS AND SAID POLYETHOXYLATED MONO FATTY ACID ESTER OF SORBITO CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 45 ETHOXY MOIETIES PER MOLECULE, (4) POLYETHOXYLATED POLYPROPYLENE GLYCOL, SAID POLYPROPYLENE GLYCOL HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF FROM ABOUT 1000 TO ABOUT 15,000 AND SAID POLYETHOXYLATED POLYPROPYLENE GLYCOL CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 15 TO ABOUT 300 ETHOXY MOIETIES PER MOLECULE, AND (5) POLYETHOXYLATED FATTY ACIDS WHEREIN SAID FATTY ACID CONTAINS FORM ABOUT 8 TO ABOUT 16 CARBON ATOMS AND SAID POLYETHOXYLATED YLATED FATTY ACID CONTAINS FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 4ETHOXY MOIETIES PER MOLECULE, THE MOLECULAR RATIO OF (A) TO (B) BEING FROM ABOUT 1:1 TO ABOUT 4:1, THE WEIGHT RATIO OF (A) + (B) TO (C) BEING FROM ABOUT 2:1 TO ABOUT 1:2 AND THE PH OF THE COMPOSITION BEING FROM ABOUT 6.0 TO ABOUT 8.0.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is present in an amount of from about 2% to about 15% by weight of the composition.
 3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the molecular ratio of the anionic surfactant to the zwitterionic surfactant is from about 1:1 to about 3:1.
 4. The composition of claim 2 wherein the molecular ratio of the anionic surfactant to the zwitterionic surfactant is from about 1:1 to about 2:1.
 5. The composition of claim 1 having a pH of about 7.0.
 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic surfactant has the formula R7CO-NH - C3H6 - N( ) (R8)2 - R9 - Y( ) wherein R7 is an alkyl group containing from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, wherein each R8 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl groups, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of sulfonate and carboxylate groups, and wherein R9 is a methylene group when Y is a carboxylate group and is selected from the group consisting of propylene and 2-hydroxypropylene groups when Y is a sulfonate group.
 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein Y is a carboxylate group.
 8. The composition of claim 6 wherein Y is a sulfonate group.
 9. THE COMPOSITION OF CLAIM 1 WHEREIN THE ZWITTERIONIC SUFFICIENT HAS THE FORMULA
 10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is a sodium salt of a fatty alcohol polyethoxy ether sulfate containing a fatty alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and about 3 ethoxy moieties per molecule.
 11. The composition of claim 1 wherein R is a fatty acid amido group containing from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and n is about
 3. 12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant is a polyethoxylataed mono fatty acid ester of sorbitol wherein the fatty acid contains from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms and wherein there are from about 15 to about 40 ethoxy moieties per molecule.
 13. The composition of claim 12 wherein the fatty acid is lauric acid.
 14. The composition of claim 1 wherein the non-ionic surfactant is a polyethoxylated alkyl alcohol wherein said alkyl alcohol contains from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and wherein there are from about 15 to about 40 ethoxy moieties per molecule.
 15. The composition of claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant is a polyethoxylated polypropylene glycol wherein said polypropylene glycol has a molecular weight of from about 8,000 to about 12,000 and said polyethoxylated polypropylene glycol contains from about 20 to about 100 ethoxy moieties per molecule.
 16. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is a sodium salt of a polyethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfosuccinate monoester, wherein said fatty alcohol contains from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and said polyethoxylated fatty alcohol contains about 3 ethoxy moieties per molecule. 